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Hi, I am Toby Jenkins, and I have served as the CEO/Executive Director for 12 years. Before that, I was board chair, pride director, and long-time volunteer. When I came out in the 90s, I ended a heterosexual marriage, faced unemployment working for elected officials, was rebuked by my church, ostracized by my family, a cancer diagnosis, and alienated from my social circle. However, the worst challenge I faced was the Oklahoma legislators had introduced a bill to stop gay people from having custody of their children. The only thing I had left from my previous life was my children. I called the helpline 918-743-4297 (918-THE-GAYS) to see if this organization could help me and oppose the anti-gay parent bill. They assured me they were fighting the bill and invited me to join their advocacy efforts. We stopped the bill from becoming law, and Oklahomans for Equality has had my allegiance and loyalty since then. Today my children are grown, married, and have given me the joy of my life, my grandchildren. They motivate me to stay the course and continue working to help Oklahoma become inclusive and welcoming for everyone.
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